Page 119 of Seduced

Antonia sat back quickly so that Georgiana would not see her. Her heart was no longer singing, it was bleeding. Bleeding as if Savage had plunged a knife into it. A red mist obscured her vision as anger replaced anguish. She flung open the carriage door, ran up the steps, and hammered the brass knocker. The door was opened by a liveried servant almost immediately. Without saying a word she jabbed her closed parasol onto his foot so that he stepped back in surprised pain. When he did so, she swept past him, straight through the reception hall, and up the stairs.

Adam Savage was in his office and looked up with annoyance at the intrusion. The annoyance didn’t leave his face when he saw who it was. She had flaunted, his orders to stay in Ireland until the end of the week, barely giving him time to dispose of Bernard Lamb.

“Tony, this is a surprise—though it shouldn’t be, knowing you as I do.”

“I’ll bet it’s a bloody surprise! You are nothing but a lecherous swine.”

He arose from the desk and came toward her. “Why are you angry with me? It should be the other way about, sweetheart.”

“Don’t sweetheart me!” She spied a scrap of blue feather on the carpet and pointed her parasol dramatically. “That’s why I’m angry! You left me at the back of beyond because you had pressing business in London. Pressing Georgiana Merrylegs to the mattress!”

His eyes were filled with amusement. “Darling, you’re jealous. Georgiana was here because she owes so much money, she’s in queer street.”

“I’m not jealous, I’m angry!” she spat.

His strong brown hands closed about her arms. “You’ve never made love while you’re angry. You have a revelation in store.” His voice was deep, persuading.

“Just because I let you make love to me in Ireland, you think I came running after you and here I stand with my little bowl held out, asking for more.”

Her fragrance filled his senses. “Mmm, let me give you more.” His hands closed on her bottom and he rubbed her against his loins as he hardened to marble.

“Take your hands off me. I can only imagine where they’ve just been,” she snapped angrily.

“Your imagination is so inventive, darling, it’s one of the things I adore about you.” He swept the papers from his desk and lifted her to sit upon it.

“Stop this, you whoremonger!”

“All in my past, I swear.” He dipped his dark head to take her scarlet mouth, but she leaned back away from him, her eyes flashing fire. The next moment her back was on the polished desk and he was looming over her like a predator about to devour its prey. She was seething with anger. His gaze licked over her like a blue candle flame. “I’ve never seen you in yellow before. It’s your color, my beauty. This moment you are so vivid and exotic, you stop my breath.”

She drew up her knees to jab him in the solar plexus. “I’ll stop your bloody lying breath!” She panted.

“I want you while you’re angry. I want you spitting and clawing at me.” His voice was low, intense, seductive as black velvet. He swept her into his arms and carried her toward his bedroom.

“Put me down!” she demanded. His nearness, his male-scented skin, stirred her desire so that her body began to tingle with anticipation despite her blazing anger. This only fueled her fury. Now she was angry at herself as well as him.

His lips were on her throat. “You are hotter and tighter when you are angry,” he murmured. “When you scream a curse at me, your sheath will tighten further on my shaft until it bucks and rears like a stallion being broken to the saddle. Hold on to your anger, darling, and I’ll give you the wildest ride of your life.” He laid her on the bed and she began to struggle madly. Her struggles succeeded in arousing her further, while he reveled in them.

“I don’t want to tear this lovely yellow outfit, so just hold still until I have you naked, then you can continue to writhe and seethe.” His teasing voice was so seductive, clearly telling her how exciting he found her, that she began to doubt that he had made love to Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire. To her own chagrin she found herself lying still while he stripped her. Suddenly she remembered his answer when she’d asked him how he handled an unwilling woman. “I simply resort to the fine art of seduction.” She went weak with longing. She was about to be seduced by him and she suddenly knew she wanted to experience the Leopard’s hypnotic seduction. She would continue to spit fire at him, while he persuaded, enticed, lured, and blandished her to give him exactly what he desired.

He spread her dusky curls across the pillows. “You’ve never looked as beautiful as you do at this moment,” he began.

All sex was a fine art to Adam Savage. “Flattery won’t get you anywhere,” she hissed.

“Flattery will get me exactly where I wish to be. Here.” He showed her by cupping her mons and thrusting a finger up inside her.

“You bastard!” she cried.

“Mmm, you contract so tightly on my finger when you shout, I can’t wait to feel what you do to my erection.”

Neither could she. She bit her lips to keep herself from screaming with excitement. “Surely you’re far too busy for this,” she said scathingly.

“I can’t think of a more productive way to spend an afternoon than making love to you.”

“I prefer making love at night, when it’s dark.”

“Liar,” he said, removing his shirt and trousers, “you like to see me naked in broad daylight.” He sat down on the edge of the bed to remove his shoes and said over his shoulder, “Anyway, I’m busy tonight.”

He felt the impact immediately as she flew at his back to rake his flesh with her nails. “Sheath your claws, you little wildcat, before I maul you.” He sprang at her, forcing her facedown on the bed, while he straddled her. Then he lifted her long silken tresses aside so he could nip and bite the back of her neck.

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